What's the matter with Donald Trump.

[Maruzo]

Right now we have 3.9 million cases, that's slightly over 1% of our population. Assuming untested carriers of 10%, we still have 90% of healthy population.

Let's galvanize that 90% (or just the whole population, for arguments sake) with one uniform goal. This is the best chance for the leaders to turn this thing around. Unite everyone with a common goal to defeat this disease.

We need that uniform voice from the top so the messaging is the same in every corner of this country.

It's not too late. Instead of saying let the virus wash all over the entire population so that a few million will die and herd immunity can take place, let's fight it head on.

All it takes is for the leaders to admit their blunders, apologize, promises no more bull shit and commit all our resources into whatever we need to fighting this virus. Testing equipment, cotton swabs, face masks, means of contact tracing.

Pass a nation-wide mandate so all citizens adhere to the strict guidelines of CDC and WHO.

Pull your selfish head out of your ass and really commit to following the guidelines. Face covering on in public, social distance, and contact tracing!

These are the tried and true methods that are being used worldwide. Many countries have benefited from the same practices.

We can too, if it's followed to the tee.

There are no conspiracy theory on this one. It's only a deadly virus and our willingness or unwillingness to fight it.

I'll bet you 100 to 1 this is the only way Trump will win his reelection. Not opposition research, not begging foreign leaders to help him find dirt on his opponents, not spewing racial hatred and partisan ideologies, and certainly not flooding the

internet and social media platforms with more conspiracy theories and false narratives.

[Maruzo]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

as maruzo already pointed out, opinions are unlikely to change. I suppose because we are a social species.

We are certainly that. It's like a family meeting where all the siblings quarrel with each other but at the end of the day they make up because they all have something in common, they are their parents children.

Here at the forum we have common grounds to build on, we all have a love for the venerable X5 and we are passionate about our country. So differences in opinion at the end of the day are just that, it's nothing to get overly anxious about.

I don't think any of us here is stupid enough to believe in falsehoods or gets lead astray because of some fantastic promises from their leaders in life.

Sooner or later we realize what's at stake and we adjust our behaviors to counter the bad influences in our lives.

Rambling on now, just hoping that we can come out of this in a positive way.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Maruzo

It's not too late. Instead of saying let the virus wash all over the entire population so that a few million will die and herd immunity can take place, let's fight it head on.

I understand what you're saying. At the very least 100% of the governors should require businesses (not individuals) to enforce a strict mask policy. If you do that, people will mask up. And it would be nice if Trump could bring himself to say as much so the governors would be given the political "out." I don't want the Feds mandating anything. Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. Leave it up to the States.

But I think the millions number is not likely to happen unless CV19 lasted for many years. 3 or 4 maybe. We are 8 months in (possibly more, infection could have begun in Dec or Nov '19) and we have ~145,000 deaths. For the number to reach even one million, at current pacing, would take almost another 4 years (47.18 months).

I am definitely wary of CV19 and take all precautions we can tolerate to protect ourselves and family. But we aren't terrified of it. As an example, my BiL was diagnosed, and given an Rx, by a doctor to have CV19 on Sunday. They ran ZERO tests, just diagnosed him based on symptoms. I had just helped him for 10 hours on Wednesday to renew his E46 front suspension. He called me Sunday at midnight (I was up washing the E53) and sounded like a whipped dog having to tell me he was Dx'd positive and apologized profusely. I told him to get a test ASAP and we'll go from there. Didn't get pissed, or chew him out, or even wake my wife to tell her. He got his results yesterday and they were negative. So, in America, with "the best healthcare system in the world," an ER doc diagnosed a condition with no testing, a condition that would affect at least 5 sets of families who would have to quarantine and be worried about developing symptoms. This was based on diarrhea, stomach cramps, rapid heart rate, and recurring fevers. My BiL is out of shape and has been working outside and on the car for a week so I told him it's likely heat exhaustion or something he ate gave him a stomach bug. The clinic doc agreed with my assessment. Told him he should be pissed and consider filing a complaint.

I certainly don't WANT people to die, but if part of the population wants to play this as politics, that's their fault. Maybe America's cumulative IQ score will go up a little if we lose 0.5% of the population. The right wing will lose some voters as well, so maybe your side will have a greater edge in upcoming elections? I realize that's a dark timeline, but "I calls em likes I sees em."

Again, protect yourselves and your family. And any friends who will/can listen.

[Maruzo]

The front suspension overhaul is definitely a 2 person job. Although I'm sure some of us here has done it alone. My E53 front suspension overhaul took me 2 days with a good friend's help.

Love the difference it made on the truck.

I try to pass on whatever I learn from the media and the CDC. For instance this is actually a vascular instead of a respiratory disease as many have thought early on.

The daily posted a podcast of 4 new insights into the coronavirus a few weeks ago:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/p...owTranscript=1

More testing is definitely going to help, or rather looking for more and different symptoms instead of just respiratory illness as a marker for the covid infection.

We may very well not have a million casualties due to this virus, knock on wood, but the panic and the anxieties the rapid spread of covid has caused is doing far more damage than the number of fatalities on paper, imho.

The cluster infection nature of this illness tends to overwork the emergency rooms in the affected communities while reducing the overall visitations to these medical facilities.

Sounds ironic, but while people are flooding the emergency rooms with covid symptoms, there're many more who are postponing their appointments for many other unrelated conditions in fear of contracting covid at these same facilities.

Face covering + social distance + outdoor events instead of indoor events.

Air indoor tend to stay motionless if the ac isn't on. When we breathe out or sneeze/ cough the droplets comes out and surrounds our immediate location like a cloud of vapors couple of feet thick. Anyone who walks past this invisible cloud of vapors is hit smack with a good chunk of our exhaled vapors.

Outdoor is quite different because there's a constant air movement from one place to another, the outdoor air is never motionless at any given time.

That's good news for us, bad for the spreading virus.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Certainly entitled to your opinion. I don't belong to a party, and have lost faith in the Republic, or at least the electoral process we use to service the Republic. I vote based on the candidate, not the letter by their name. Trump was allowed to win because the Democrats assumed the status quo. Well, it changed. And now we have the Cheeto in Chief making America look foolish. I did not vote for him, I won't in November. Nor will I vote for Biden, unless he picks one hell of a running mate.

But, what makes us (meaning Americans) look worse than Trump? The fact that both sides believe their party to be in sole possession of all the right answers. And so we entrench ourselves in red or blue. Politics have become a religion. Them vs us. Tragic.

But, again, it doesn't matter anyway because our politicians aren't interested in serving us. Corporations want to do something illegal, or against the interest of the consumer? No problem, we'll add some legislation to a 500 page bill and sneak it through for you. See Ajit Pai at the FCC for numerous examples of corporate servitude (he's an ex Verizon attorney btw). Trump is a result of the flawed system, not the catalyst for one. Though he's definitely not making things any better. But neither did Obama. Not discounting his administration before I get jumped on. Obama had some successes, but overall, it was business as usual. He got my vote first term and lost it for his second.

We can all exercise our rights to vote, suggest we do so. Even with my pessimism I drag my ass to the booth every four years (more frequently than that obviously for local/State).

As for the virus, we are going to homeschool this year. Fortunately, we have that option. I feel for parents who both work and are losing income/jobs or are having to send their kids off to school and risk the health of the family. Returning to school is one of those lose/lose decisions that each district will have to decide on. The virus has highlighted problems in our society that existed prior to Trump, and will remain long after. It's human nature to want to place blame. We are in a pandemic, it's going to suck no matter what paths we take. Especially with the shortcomings mentioned above, both social and political.

Not sure why I wasted time typing all that, as maruzo already pointed out, opinions are unlikely to change. I suppose because we are a social species.

Not voting for Biden is a vote for Trump.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Not voting for Biden is a vote for Trump.

Not so, it's a vote for whoever else is on the ticket. If the Dems don't carry the day, that's their fault and no one else's. I don't believe in a 2 party system and I'm not going to use my vote to further it.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Not so, it's a vote for whoever else is on the ticket. If the Dems don't carry the day, that's their fault and no one else's. I don't believe in a 2 party system and I'm not going to use my vote to further it.

In this case the only person that has a chance of defeating Trump is Biden. A vote for a candidate that can't win is one less vote for Biden. I think the primary goal for this election is to get Trump out of office. It's kinda like standing on ceremony to vote for a candidate that can't win the election.

However, I understand your right to be true to your beliefs and respect that you do.

[Maruzo]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

In this case the only person that has a chance of defeating Trump is Biden. A vote for a candidate that can't win is one less vote for Biden. I think the primary goal for this election is to get Trump out of office. It's kinda like standing on ceremony to vote for a candidate that can't win the election.

However, I understand your right to be true to your beliefs and respect that you do.

If another worthy candidate rises up and shows promise of beating either candidate, I would consider him/her.

Since there's none at the moment, I agree with BC, the goal here is to remove Trump first.

Anyone, even Biden, is a much better alternative than the cheetos in chief.

I honestly believe our republic will not survive another 4 years of his abuse.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Maruzo

If another worthy candidate rises up and shows promise of beating either candidate, I would consider him/her.

Since there's none at the moment, I agree with BC, the goal here is to remove Trump first.

Anyone, even Biden, is a much better alternative than the cheetos in chief.

I honestly believe our republic will not survive another 4 years of his abuse.

I don't expect anyone to rise up to be a realistic challenge to Trump or Biden. My intention is to vote straight democratic. It seems obvious that nothing will get done unless the democrats control both the house and the senate.

[Maruzo]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I don't expect anyone to rise up to be a realistic challenge to Trump or Biden. My intention is to vote straight democratic. It seems obvious that nothing will get done unless the democrats control both the house and the senate.

Good point. I really want mitch to step down as well. His republican majority senate handicapped a lot of obama era appointments and policies.